Author: Hamza Rufai

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have again intercepted another consignment of 175,000 bottles of opioid imported from India. The is coming barely a week after seizing a shipment of 175,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup at the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers state. The two seizures, according to a statement by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, followed earlier intelligence, which made the Agency request that the shipment be stepped down for 100 percent examination. He said the latest seizure of 875 cartons of codeine containing 175,000 bottles and weighing 26,250kg, was made on Friday…

ABOUT 270 intending pilgrims from Kwara on Friday protested at llorin international Airport over the inability of an Air Peace aircraft to transport them to Saudi Arabia. This newspaper reports that the pilgrims, officials of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board and the 2024 state Amirul Hajj had boarded the aircraft since Thursday. The Air Peace aircraft was, however, said to have developed a technical fault. It also reports that some engineers with the Federal Airport Authority had been making frantic efforts to repair the faulty aircraft since Thursday without success. Air Peace would transport pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra,…

THE tripartite committee meeting for a new national minimum wage is underway. The meeting, which is the fifth since the suspension of the industrial action by organised labour, is holding behind closed doors at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja. Some prominent members of the committee are in attendance including the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF); the Minister of Labour and Employment (State) Nkiruka Onyejeocha, the Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodimma; a representative of the Salaries, Income and Wages Commission; the Minister of Finance Wale Edun as well as the Minister of Budget and National Planning…

A LAW firm, U.U. Chamo and Ismail legal practitioners, has threatened legal action over alleged defamatory publication against the suspended Director+General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu. In a pre-action notice filed on behalf of Mr Nuhu and addressed to the publisher/editor-in-chief of the company, the principal partner of the firm, U.U. Chamo, said the claims contained in the report are unfounded, false, and injurious to his client’s reputation. Mr Chamo said the report, which was published on May 17 and insinuated that Mr Nuhu would be arraigned in court by the EFCC, was misleading. He…

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested intending pilgrims of the 2024 Hajj, as they planned to ingest wraps of cocaine ahead of their flight on Wednesday. Narrating how the arrest was made, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, said its officials had raided Emerald Hotel, Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos State where some of the intending pilgrims were lodged. Those arrested during the intelligence-led operation include, Usman Kamorudeen, 31; Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 46; Fatai Yekini, 38; and a lady, Ayinla Kemi, 34. The four suspects were lodged in two rooms…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu says the appointment of Nyesom Wike as the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is one of best by his administration. Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, spoke in Abuja on Wednesday when he commissioned the extension of the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) and the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) to the Southern Parkway. “As we celebrate this achievement, it is crucial once again to acknowledge the concerted efforts of the FCT Minister, Chief Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and his team, and all stakeholders involved, including private sector partners,” he said. “As I said the…

NIGERIA’s current account balance has experienced a surplus of $1.432bn in 2024, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The report, ‘World Economic Outlook Database’ seen by Channels Television on Wednesday, noted that the increase in the Federal Government’s account for the period, was an improvement from the $1.21bn surplus recorded in 2023. The improvement was attributed to the country’s growing gross national savings and investment. In 2024, Nigeria’s gross national savings increased to 26.32 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, up from 24.61 per cent in 2023. Total investment also rose to 25.75 per cent of…

A NEWLYWED woman, Habiba Ibrahim, has reportedly cut the manhood of her 40-year-old husband, Salisu Idris, while he was asleep. She was said to have been arrested by the police. Idris, a commercial motorcycle rider and resident of Kudan in Kaduna State, said the incident happened on May 26 after he returned from the early morning prayers. He said lying on his bed to have some rest when his wife suddenly jumped on him with a sharp knife and almost cut off his manhood, but for neighbours who came to his rescue when they heard him shout. Idris said they…

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended their industrial action – over a lack of consensus on a new minimum wage and the hike in electricity tariff  – for about one week.  The TUC president Festus Osifo said this on Tuesday in Abuja after a joint extraordinary national executive council meeting of the unions. A communique will be issued shortly, the labour chief said. Both unions downed tools on Monday to register their grievances over the hike in electricity tariff and lack of consensus on a new minimum wage. The development ground activities in…

THE Nigeria Labour Congress has disclosed that the ongoing nationwide strike will continue despite the agreement signed with the Federal Government at Monday’s meeting. The congress, in a post on X, on Tuesday said the industrial action which has grounded the nation’s economy will continue until Tuesday’s meeting of organs of the union where all resolutions of Monday’s meeting are expected to be reviewed. “Until we hear from our organs at our meeting scheduled for today, June 4, we are still on strike,” the post read. The PUNCH reports that after a six-hour meeting with the leadership of the organised…

THE Nigerian Army on Monday pulled out 16 Generals who have retired from active service from the Nigerian Army Education Corps, NAEC. This is contained in a statement issued by Capt .Yemi Sokoya, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters, Nigerian Army Education Corps in Abuja. Mr Sokoya said that the event took place at the Sobi Military Cantonment, Ilorin. He also said that the pulling out parade was to celebrate the illustrious and selfless service the retired Generals have rendered to the Nigerian Army, NAEC and the nation at large. Mr Sokoya said that in a key note address,…

THE Federal Government has agreed to pay more than the N60,000 it initially proposed as new minimum wage. The decision was taken at a meeting the government had with labour leaders on Monday night in Abuja to address the dispute over the national minimum wage in response to the nationwide strike declared by the organised labour.. The meeting, held in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Monday evening aimed to resolve the impasse and bring an end to the industrial action that had paralysed various sectors across the country. At the end of the…

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities has joined the ongoing strike by the organised labour comprising Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress. This is coming after the Federal Government failed to meet the unions’ minimum wage demand. In a statement addressed to the branch chairpersons and zonal coordinators of ASUU on Monday, the association’s President, Emmanuel Osodeke, directed lecturers in universities across the country to join the strike as an affiliate of the congress. The statement read, “The NLC has declared an indefinite strike action beginning from Monday, 3rd June, 2024, as a result of the failure of Government…

THE Kogi State Government has announced the rescue of the remaining eight kidnapped students of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara. Our correspondent gathered that the students were rescued in a forest in Kwara State in an operation carried out in collaboration with the government of the state. The state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement on Sunday, said that the state governor has directed full support towards the recovery of the students and their parents, while modalities are being put in place to make the state safer for all. The statement read, “The government of Kogi…

THE Federal Government has pleaded with Organised Labour to reconsider its decision to embark on an indefinite strike from Monday, June 3, 2024, in protest against the government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000. The interest of the masses should be the top priority of Organised Labour, the Federal Government stressed. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, disclosed this in an with newsmen. While describing the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress as partners in Project Nigeria, Mohammed noted that industrial action was not the solution to the ongoing negotiation for a…

THE Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has given over 23 government establishments, including the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Air Force, Police Headquarters, Niger State Government, ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs) a three-day notice to pay up their debts or risk disconnection. The electricity firm, which covers the Federal Capital Territory and some adjoining states, said this in a statement made available to News Point Nigeria, Saturday. In the statement,  AEDC gave the customers up till June 3, 2024 to settle their debts or face disconnection of their electricity supply. It emphasised the importance of adhering to payment deadlines to…

SUSPENDED Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, has been released from the Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory after spending 27 months in detention. Kyari was detained following his arrest on February 14, 2022, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for alleged involvement with an international drug cartel. Kyari, along with four members of the Police Intelligence Response Team—Sunday Ubia, Bawa James, Simon Agirigba, and John Nuhu—was arraigned on March 7, 2022. Two suspected drug traffickers, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne, who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, were also charged. While Kyari and…

THERE is tight security at the Central Mosque of Kano where Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to attend Friday prayers. Our reporter observes that there is large number of local security operatives of vigilantes and hunters with few personnel from the Department of State Service and Police. Earlier, there was disquiet in the city following reports that the dethroned Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, would attend Juma’at prayer at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, the same mosque Emir Sanusi is also expected to attend. The Kano State Police Command, however, dismissed the reports, saying the deposed Ado Bayero…

THE Supreme Court, on Thursday, gave the 36 state governors of the federation, seven days to file their defence to the suit brought against them by the Federal Government through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The apex court held that filing of all processes and exchanging of same must be completed within nine days. It, therefore, adjourned till June 13 for the hearing of the suit. In the suit, marked SC/CV/343/2024, the Federal Government wants the apex court to enforce the autonomy of the local government by, among other things, stopping state…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Thursday urged state governors to prioritise the needs of their local communities. Receiving the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu said the call was necessary to ensure accountability and effectiveness in the administration of local governments. He also asked the Arewa leaders to hold their governors accountable to the people. “We are running a constitutional democracy. I will appeal to you to summon the governors. I am doing my very best to enhance the revenue base of the country. They must equally be sympathetic, and they must urgently…